Coronavirus: Obaseki goes on self-isolation

… Edo Assembly speaker tests positive; wife, daughter tested negative, 111 persons being traced

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, Wednesday went into self- isolation. The self-isolation was sequel to the governor’s close contact with the Bauchi State governor, Bala Muhammed, and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who have both tested positive to coronavirus.

A statement by special adviser to the governor on media and communication strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said the governor had sent his samples for testing.

According to Osagie, the governor has gone into selfisolation after the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, tested positive for coronavirus.

“The governor had met Senator Mohammed at the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and National Economic Council (NEC) meetings. He also visited Mr. Kyari,” he said, noting that although the governor was not showing any symptoms of the virus, but had taken the necessary precautions to self- isolate to protect people that might otherwise come in contact with him.

Meanwhile, the state government Wednesday said speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, was the patient that tested positive to Coronavirus in the state.

Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor, made the disclosure at a press briefing at Government House, Benin City.

Recall that the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday at a press briefing confirmed the first case of COVID- 19 in the state.

Obaseki said the first case tested positive to the virus, but, however, did not disclose the identity of the person.

Shaibu said the speaker returned from the United Kingdom, and had gone into self-isolation immediately he returned to the country.

“We have one confirmed case in the state, and that case is the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye. He is in a stable condition and his family has tested negative,” he said.

The deputy governor said the state government had been able to track those that had closed contact with the speaker, saying the state was tracking a total of 111 persons, who might have had contact with the speaker, out of which 64 percent of the number had been tracked.

He added that six persons had been isolated, samples taken from five persons and results being awaited.

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